Fun with food

I'm so glad that Bella is showing interest in cooking and baking at a young age.  I know she's still too young to get really down and dirty, but I'm really excited to be able to pass traditions down to her some day.  In the meantime, I like to get her involved as best she can, and even come up with a few traditions of our own.

Bella and I made these cute brownies together to bring to a play date (that ended up getting snowed out!).  We had fun getting creative with it.

These brownies are chewy enough that you can roll and cut them into shapes, which is what we did.  We also added colored sprinkles and a little bit of confectioners' sugar to make them even more fun.

Play Date Brownies
adapted from Family Fun Magazine
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate squares
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Confectioners' sugar 
Colored sprinkles


Unwrap the chocolate squares and the stick of butter, then place them both in a medium-sized saucepan.

1. Place the saucepan on the stove top and heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter are melted and smooth. Set aside until cool (this will take 15 minutes or so).
   
   
   Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9- by 9-inch square baking pan.
2. Crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl and whisk until foamy. Pour in the sugar and brown sugar and whisk until the mixture is well combined. Whisk in the vanilla extract, then carefully add the cooled chocolate mixture and stir until thoroughly combined.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add this mixture to the egg and sugar mixture and beat for about 50 strokes or until the flour has been fully incorporated and the batter is smooth.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, add sprinkles and bake for 40 minutes. Test the brownies for doneness. Cool thoroughly in the pan, then remove and cut with cookie cutters or roll into balls.  Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.